Does taking antibiotics cause hair loss and what is the way to deal with it?

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for your current illness, the usual course of antibiotics depending on the type of infection you have and the doctor's diagnosis is usually 5 to 10 days. Most patients do not experience any problems with antibiotics, but those who are prone to hair loss may experience hair loss after a few days of taking antibiotics. Also, in cases where the patient has to continue taking antibiotics for a long time due to widespread and chronic infection, complications such as fatigue, weakness, digestive problems, hair loss, etc. are often observed.

Why can antibiotics cause hair loss?

By taking antibiotics, in addition to the bacteria that have caused the infection in the body, the beneficial bacteria are also attacked and killed. For example, there are thousands of beneficial bacteria in the human stomach and intestines that help digest food, and these bacteria also produce some biotin.

Biotin is one of the B vitamins known as Vitamin H, which stands for Hair. Biotin is essential for the proliferation of cells, including cells of hair follicles, and subsequently for hair growth.


When the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut is reduced by taking antibiotics, not enough biotin is produced in the body and the person becomes deficient in it. Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that the body cannot store.

This vitamin is used to produce energy, release insulin into the blood and regulate appetite, metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins, and its deficiency can cause side effects such as anorexia and weakness, hair loss and thinning hair. Be.

In order to prevent biotin deficiency while taking antibiotics, it is recommended to include more biotin sources in your diet, such as eggs, carrots, beets, almonds, walnuts and other nuts, cow's and goat's milk, berries, onions and avocados. Or you can use dietary supplements that contain 300 to 1000 micrograms of biotin on a daily basis.

After the end of the antibiotic course, in order to multiply the beneficial bacteria in the intestines faster, it is recommended to use probiotic food supplements or foods enriched with probiotics such as milk, yogurt and other dairy products for a few weeks. .

Antibiotic use and vitamin K deficiency

Vitamin K is another vitamin produced by intestinal bacteria, although it is also found in foods such as vegetables, legumes and nuts.

Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting. If you have impaired absorption of this vitamin and blood clotting problems and you have to take antibiotics for a long time, be sure to consult your doctor about this.


Vitamin B12 deficiency and antibiotic use

The gastrointestinal tract must be in perfect health for this vital vitamin to be properly absorbed. As a general rule, with age, especially in people over 50, the absorption of this vitamin through the gastrointestinal tract decreases and many people over 50 need Use of vitamin B12 supplements or injectable form.

If your antibiotic course is long and more than 14 days and you are over 50 years old, it is recommended to use B-complex supplements in consultation with your doctor.

Vitamin B12 is needed for energy production, red blood cells, brain activity and the central nervous system.


Here are some tips for taking antibiotics:

Avoid taking antibiotics without a doctor's advice.

Be sure to complete the course of antibiotics. Even if your symptoms improve, failure to complete the course will make the bacteria more resistant and the infection may return, requiring stronger antibiotics over a longer period of time.

Take the medicine on time and try not to forget any promises.

Some medications and supplements, such as antacids, calcium, etc., reduce the absorption of antibiotics and should not be taken at the same time. Read the leaflet inside the medicine box carefully for more information.

Be sure to tell your doctor before taking antibiotics if you have a specific illness or are allergic to certain medications, such as penicillin.

After the end of the antibiotic course, use probiotic and B-complex dietary supplements for one to two weeks.